Sukhbir sworn in as Punjab Deputy CM for second time

Chandigarh, Aug 10 (PTI) Shiromani Akali Dal President
Sukhbir Singh Badal was Monday sworn-in as the Deputy Chief
Minister of the northern state of Punjab for the second time
this year, becoming second-in-command to his father and Chief
Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Unlike his swearing-in function in January, which was
held in Amritsar with much fanfare, Monday's function was kept
a low-key affair at the Raj Bhawan here where the 47-year-old
was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor S
F Rodrigues.

Sukhbir had to resign last month as he failed to get
elected to the state assembly within six months of his being
sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister. He cleared the hurdle
last week, having been elected to the assembly from Jalalabad
in a bye-election.

Dressed in traditional kurta-pyjama, the junior Badal
took the oath in Punjabi. Besides Parkash Singh Badal, the
oath-taking ceremony was attended by the Chief Minister's
cabinet colleagues and BJP leaders from the state, among
others.

With his induction in the ministry, Sukhbir's elevation
became a rare instance in India's political history when a
father-son duo will hold the two top jobs in a government at
the same time.

Sukhbir had defeated his Congress rival Hans Raj Joshan
by a record margin of over 80,000 votes in the by-polls to the
Jalalabad assembly seat, paving way for his re-appointment.
PTI